Thirty-six private security firms are to be closed today, according to Police and Interior Minister Rafael Subervi Bonilla. Collectively, they owe the State more than DR$15 million for unpaid back taxes on the firearms their employees carry. The Minister told reporters that President Hipolito Mejia had granted the company a 30-day grace period to put their tax accounts in order, but the 30 days are up and they have not complied. In addition, Subervi also said that the arms licenses of the individual guards would be canceled. Uniformed private security guards are ubiquitous throughout the DR. They can be seen in front of office buildings, commercial malls, government facilities, large apartment complexes, and many private homes. Typically, they carry shotguns.
